Feeding mechanism for stave-jointing machines



May 5, 1925.

A. M. WALSTROM FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STAVE JOINTING MACHIN'ES Original Filed Oct. 5, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 5, 1925.

A. M. WALSTROM FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STAVE JOINTING MAHINES Original Filed Oct. 5, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 QW D 5%./ y ..-f k i@ l S VO /6 P vE \wm$ w Sw lv. )Q 1J 1T 1m... 1F. hw

A. M. WALSTROM FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STAVE JOINTING MACHINES May 5, 1925.

Original Filed Oct. 3, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 5, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AXEL M. WALSTROM, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA., ASSIGNO-R TO THE CREAMERY PACKAGE MFG. COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FEEDING- MECHANISM FOR STAVE-J'OINTING MACHINES.

Original appli-cation filed October 3, 1923, Serial N'o. 666,280. Divided and this application 1ed` September 22, 1924. Serial No. 739,079.

To all 107mm it may conce/rn.:

Be it known that I, AXE-L M. IVALs'rRoM, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeding Mechanism for Stave-Jointing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to machinery for the processing of staves used in the manufacture of tubs and like containers of stave construction, and more particularly to the work feeding mechanism in a machine for shaping or jointing the staves, such as that described and illustrated in my copending application Serial No. 666,280, of which this application is a division.

In my copending application above referred to, I have described and illustrated my invention of a machine for finishing the lateral edges of staves for assembling in the construction of tubs and like containers of tapered form. The machine einbodies automatic mechanisms for positioning the sta-ves in relation to cutting devices, which operate successively to finish the lateral edges of staves of variable widths in correct angular relation, the structure and operation of which I have therein set forth.

The machine also embodies automatic mechanism for successively conveying o-r feeding the staves from a magazine stack through the respective operating zones of the positioning and cutting devices, my invention of improvements in such feeding mechanism being the subject matter of this application.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a feeding device or carrier which operates automatically to Withdraw a successive series of staves from a stacked supply and propel them through the machine, With provision for the automatic release of the staves for the lateral positioning thereof, and for automatically locking the staves to the carrier in adjusted position during the cutting operations.

Other objects and advantages Will be apparent in the following detailed description of a, preferred embodiment of my invention which I have selected for illustration in the accompanying drawings. It

will be understood, however, that various changes in form, construction and arrangement may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 represents a sectional elevation of the machine. Fig. Q, is a detailed side view of one lof the carrier chains and the stave engagingl devices. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of one of the chains in relation to one of the first cutter heads. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the plane of the line 6-in Fig. l, illustrating the chain and its supports in relation to one of the second cutter heads. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detailed views of the stave engaging devices carried by the chains. I will first state generally the operative arrangement of the machine, herein illustrated as adapted to the jointing of staves for butter tubs. Staves are commonly cut in rough stock of variant widths approximately tapered in accordance with the dimensions of the assembled tub. lIhe cut pieces of single tub staves thus formed are stacked at one end of the machine. An endless chain travelling beneath the stack carries devices adapted to engage thexlowermost staves successively and move them forward through the machine.

As each stave is moved out from the stack in the magazine it passes into the path of a lateral positioning device which engages the stave and moves it into position of alinement of one of its lateral edges, whereupon the engaging devices on the carrier chain operate to lock thestave in its adjusted position. The continuously forwardly moving stave is then carried into engagement `with a revolving cutter which-finishes the lateral edge of the stave alined by the first positioning device, the stave thereafter being released from the locking engagement of the carrier devices.

In the further progress of the stave the latter passes into the path of the second positioning device, which engages the stave and moves it laterally across the carrier chain into position for operation upon the unfinished edge by a second revolving cutter. rPhe structure and operation of the positioning devices being fully set forth in my application Serial No. 666,280, they are not further described herein.

At the completion of the movement of the second positioning device, the engaging devices on the carrier chain again operate to lock the stave thereto, the latterl being then moved through the Zoneof the second cutter head by which the unnished stave edge is planed. Thereafter, the locking devices release the stave and it is discharged from the machine.

y More specifically described, with reference to the drawings, the operating mechanisms may be supported upon a frame of any suitable construction; that herein illustrated comprising pairs of uprightv members 1, supported upon bottom rails 2 and carrying top rails 3. Top cross members 4- and intermediate cross members 5 complete the frame structure.

Mounted on the cross members 4t, are two pairs of longitudinally extending spaced guide rails 6, each pair supporting one of two endless carriers 7, the illustration of one pair of rails and one of the carriers being deemed sufiicient for the present description. Each of the carriers preferably is of link-belt or chain type, and is operatively supported at the ends of the guide rails'by sprockets 8 and 9, the upper run of the carrier chain passing between the guide rails 6. The front or receiving end sprocket 8 is mounted on a shaft 1() having suitable bearing supports 11 mounted on the frame members 3. The rear or delivery end sprocket -9 is mounted on a shaft 12 having bearing supports mounted on the other ends of the frame members y3. The shaft`12 carries a drive pulley 11i by which power is received for the operation of the chain carriers.

The guide rails 6 are adapted to give lateral and under support between the sprockets 8 and 9 to the upper run of the carrier chain 7 in such position that the upper surfacefof the chain preferably eX- tends somewhat above the upper edges of the guide rails. In the present instance, inner rail elements 15 are provided for the under support of the chain, being suitably secured tothe guide rails G with their upper supporting surfaces below and parallel to the upper edges of the guide rails. rlihe rail elements 15 are spaced to provide a channel therebetween.

The carrier T is preferably of link belt construction comprising outer side links 16 (F 5, 6 and 7) with their ends overlapping inner side links 17 and carrying cross pins 18 on which the inner links are pivoted. Spacer sleeves 19 are positioned between the pairs of inner links, thel sleeves preferably being provided with bushings 29 as bearings for the pivot pins.

At regular intervals in the Carrier 7 there are located stave engaging devices comprising specially formed pairs of links 21, (Figs. 5, 6 and 7) having upwardly projecting extensions, which latter are constructed at the front with shoulders 22, and at the rear with pointed portions 23. Operatively positioned between the links 21 of each device, and hinged on the forward pin 241, is a dog 25 also provided with an upward extension projecting substantially above the normal surface of the carriers 7 and having forwardly projecting teeth 26 formed on the front portion of the extension. In raised position of the hinged dog 25, the teeth 26 extend substantially in advance of the shoulders 22 on the links 21, while in lowered position the teeth 26 recede rearwardly of the shoulders 22. A roller 2? is mounted on the rear lower portion of the dog 25, suitably secured as by straps 28 supporting a pin 29 ou which the roller is pivoted. The roller 27 swings below the normal under surface of the carrier chain with the pivotal movement of the dog 25 about the pin 24.

As herein illustrated, the stare engaging devices are positioned as every tenth pair of links, and the ten-tooth sprockets 8 and are of mutilated construction, one tooth being omitted and a recess provided in lieu thereof to accomn'iodate the roller 2T in its passage over the sprocket, as illustrated at 230 in Fig. 2.

As each stave engaging device passes over the sprocket 8 at the beginning of the upper run of the carrier, the dog 25 swings downward by gravity, effecting the withdrawal of the engaging teeth 26 from before the link shoulders 22. Positioned beneath the upper run of the carrier and between the inner guide rails 15 are two successively arranged cam bars 31 and 32, which engage the rollers 2T, lift the dogs 25, and thrust forward the teeth 2G, holding the dogs in raised position while travelling the length of the respective bars. (See Fig.2). The cam bars 31 and 32 are resiliently mounted. being similarly supported in the construction illustrated on cross bars carried ou compression springs 3a, which latter are carried by bolts 35 suspended from the flanges of the guide rails G.

Positioned above the upper run of the arrier is i longitudinally extending stave retaining bar 36, secured in spaced relation to the carrier chain by cross bars 3T, adjustably supported on posts or bolts 538 mounted on the flanges of the rails 6.

A stave hopper or magazine is located over the front portion of the carrier. 1n the present illustration a forward wall or stop 39 is formed of the turned-up end of the retaining` bar 3G, (see. Figs. 1 and Laterally outward ofthe carrier is positioned a side wall t0 having one end turned iuwardly to form an end wall Lll opposite to l the forward wall 39. An upright stave poare adjustably secured to the side members 3 of the frame. For the under support of the staves in the hopper, there are provided a pair of brackets 45 suitably securedto the guide rails 6, and curved tothe contour of the sides of the staves.

The mechanism hereinbefore described comprises the means for propelling the staves through the machine and for supporting them during the shaping of their lateral edges. In operation, anattendant fills the hopper with flatly stacked staves, illustrated at A, their lateral edges'on the side toward the wall l0 being in approximate alinement and their forward ends in abutment with the stop 39. The forward moving upper run of the carrier passes in close proximity beneath the bottom staves of the stack. As the projecting shoulders of the links 2l reach the stack they successively engage the end of the bottom stave and push it from beneath the stack into the space beneath the retaining bar 36, the remaining staves dropping down as the bottom one is removed. The pairs of links 21 are separated in the carriers by a slightly greater distance than the length of a stave, and when lirst engaged the stave is thus loosely positioned between successive pairs of links, the dog' 25 being carried in receded position. lVhile thus loosely moved forward, the stave is laterally engaged by the first of the positioning devices (indicated generally at B) and one of its edges alined for shaping at the correct angle, the shoulders of the links 2l acting as endward guides during the lateral movement of the stave.

When the dog 25 reaches the cam bar 31, the roller 27 is engaged thereby and the dog is lifted, driving the teeth 26 forward into the adjacent end of the stave and forcing the forward end of the stave upon the knifeedged rear end of the projecting portion of the preceding pair of links 21. The stave is thus locked in correct position for the first shaping operation, which latter is accomplished by the cutter C while the dog 25 travels the length of the cam bar 3l. If there he any slight variation in the lengths of the staves, the resilient support of the cani har compensates therefor in varying the extent to which the teeth 26 are advanced in the upward movement of the dog.

Passing olf the end of the cam bar 3l, the dog 25 drops down and withdraws its engaging teeth from the stave, the latter being again loosely propelled by the forward shoulders of the links 2l. During this stage the stave is laterally engaged by the second positioning means, (indicated generally at D) which alines the other edge of the stave for correct shaping.

Thereafter, the dog 25 reaches the second cam bar 32 and is operated to again lock the stave in its new position for the second shaping cut by the cutter E while the dog travels over the bar 32.` As the dog drops off the end of the second cam bar, the stave is finally released and loosely propelled out of the machine.

I claim as my invention:

l. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an endless travelling carrier, a magazine Apositioned over said carrier adapted to receive a stack of staves, a plurality of spaced projecting elements mounted on said carrier, each of said elements having a forward shoulder adapted to engage and remove successively the undermost stave from said magazine and propel the same on said carrier, each of said elements also having a rearward shoulder forming an abutment for the forward end of the next succeeding stave, a member pivotally mounted adjacent each of said elements normally in recession rearwardly of the forward shoulder of its associated element and operable forwardly to engage and lock the stave positioned therebefore in abutment with the rearward shoulder of the preceding element, and means for successively operating said members into stave engaging position.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pair of spaced rails, an endless travelling carrier operatively supported between said rails, a magazine positioned over said carrier adapted to receive a stack of staves, a plurality of spaced projecting elements mounted on said carrier, each of said elements having a forward shoulder adapted to engage and remove successively the undermost stave from said magazine and propel the same along said rails, each of said elements also having a rearward shoulder forming an abutment for the forward end of the next succeeding stave, a bar extending longitudinally above said rails in parallel spaced relation thereto to retain the staves against upward displacement and having an upturned end portion forming a stop to retain all but the lowermost of said staves in said magazine, a member pivotally mounted adjacent each of said elements normally in recession rearwardly of the forward shoulder of its associated element and operable forwardly to engage and lock the stave emplaced therebefore from said magazine in abutment with the rearward shoulder of the preceding element, and means for successively operating said members into stave engaging position.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, a carrier, a series of spaced elements carried thereby and extending 'above the surface thereof to form forward and rearward shoulders for the abutment of staves positioned therebetween, a member pivotally mounted adjacent each of said elements having an upper portion arranged to swing in advance of the element into engagement with the end of the adjacent stave and having a lower -portion extending `below said carrier. said members being normally positioned with their stave engaging portions withdrawnrearwardly of said shoulders, and a cam positioned beneath said carrier adapted to engage the lower extended portions of said members and swing them into stave engaging position, said cam being resiliently mounted to permit the passage thereover of said members with variable degrees of forward movement of the stave engaging portions of said members.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, a link belt. a plurality of links regularly spaced in said belt having projecting portions extending' above the operative run of said belt forming front and rear shoulders adapted to receive therebetween and guide a series of staves, each of said links having a dog associated therewith and pivoted coincidently with one of its pivots, said dogs respectively being provided with fforwardly projecting teeth on their upper por-tions adapted to be swung` forwardly of the front shoulders of said link extensions with the upward movement of said dogs., 1'the lower portion of each of said dogs extending below said belt, a cam bar vpos'itioned'beneath the upper run of said belt adapted to engage vthe lower 7extending' portions of said Adogs and swing said dogs upwardly, thereby causing said teeth to engage the adjacent staves and lock them in abutment with Athe rear shoulders formed on the preceding :link extensions.

5. In apparatus of the class described, having a carrier comprising gpivotally connected pairs vof spaced links, the combination of an upward extension of each of a pair of links, said extension presenting a front and a rear shoulder above the surface of the carrier, a dog pivoted on the frontl pivot `of lsaid pair of links and swinging between said links` the upper Iportion of said dog extending forwardly of said front shoulder when the dog is swung into upward position and withdrawn rearwardly thereof when in lowered position, a roller carried by said dog extending below said carrier, and a resiliently depressible cam bar positioned beneath said carrier adapted to engage said roller and raise said dog to advance the upper portion thereof.

In witness whereof I have hereunto attached my signature.

AXEL M. VVALSTROM. 

